Get the Latest Investment Ideas Delivered Straight to Your Inbox. Subscribe

TICKERS: SEA; SA

Toronto Co. Applies for KSM Permit Extension Approval
Research Report

View Important Disclosures for this Article
Share on Stocktwits

Source:

Seabridge Gold Corp.'s application for "substantially started" status for its KSM project in British Columbia has been submitted, according to RBC Capital Markets.

Seabridge Gold Inc. (SEA:TSX; SA:NYSE.MKT) has submitted an application for "substantially started" status for its KSM project in British Columbia, according to RBC Capital Markets analyst Michael Siperco in a January 17 report.

If approved, this would extend key environmental permits over the estimated 33-year mine life, significantly derisking the US$7 billion gold/copper project.

The Application and Requirements

Seabridge applied to the BC government for substantial start approval, which is based on the following:

  • Indigenous community support
  • Physical on-site construction progress
  • Total expenditures

RBC believes Seabridge should meet these thresholds given agreements with local communities, over US$800 million invested since 2014, and hundreds of millions spent on access roads, camps, and other early works.

De-risking the Mega-Project

In Siperco's view, successfully extending provincial environmental approvals over KSM's life-of-mine would be a major derisking milestone. The project previously received harmonized provincial and federal assessment approval in 2014.

However, BC required substantial progress within five years, plus a 5-year extension, to maintain permits. This deadline is July 2026 after pandemic-related delays.

Securing the substantial start designation years ahead of that deadline would effectively derisk this crucial permit for the project's decades-long operational phase.

Path to Construction Decision

With permitting clarity, Siperco sees Seabridge's top priority as securing a major mining partner. This would provide funding for feasibility studies and a potential construction decision to develop the US$7+ billion project.

A partner validating KSM's economics at the feasibility stage and contributing capital to reach production could drive significant upside for Seabridge investors.

RBC's Outperform rating and US$25 price target assumes a partner is found, permits extended, and positive feasibility results enable the building of the large-scale gold/copper mine complex.

In summary, Seabridge Gold has filed for environmental permit extension approval at its British Columbia mega-project. Securing substantially started status could derisk KSM's development path and help attract a construction partner.


Want to be the first to know about interesting Gold investment ideas? Sign up to receive the FREE Streetwise Reports' newsletter. Subscribe

Important Disclosures:

  1. [Seabridge Gold Inc.] is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports and pays SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$4,000 and US$5,000.
  2. The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

For additional disclosures, please click here.

Disclosures for RBC Capital Markets, Seabridge Gold Inc., January 17, 2024

Non-U.S. analyst disclosure One or more research analysts involved in the preparation of this report (i) may not be registered/qualified as research analysts with the NYSE and/or FINRA and (ii) may not be associated persons of the RBC Capital Markets, LLC and therefore may not be subject to FINRA Rule 2241 restrictions on communications with a subject company, public appearances and trading securities held by a research analyst account

Conflicts disclosures The analyst(s) responsible for preparing this research report received compensation that is based upon various factors, including total revenues of the member companies of RBC Capital Markets and its affiliates, a portion of which are or have been generated by investment banking activities of the member companies of RBC Capital Markets and its affiliates. With regard to the MAR investment recommendation requirements in relation to relevant securities, a member company of Royal Bank of Canada, together with its affiliates, may have a net long or short financial interest in excess of 0.5% of the total issued share capital of the entities mentioned in the investment recommendation. Information relating to this is available upon request from your RBC investment advisor or institutional salesperson. Please note that current conflicts disclosures may differ from those as of the publication date on, and as set forth in, this report. To access current conflicts disclosures, clients should refer to https://www.rbccm.com/GLDisclosure/PublicWeb/ DisclosureLookup.aspx?entityId=1 or send a request to RBC CM Research Publishing, P.O. Box 50, 200 Bay Street, Royal Bank Plaza, 29th Floor, South Tower, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2W7. A member company of RBC Capital Markets or one of its affiliates received compensation for investment banking services from Seabridge Gold Inc. in the past 12 months. RBC Capital Markets, LLC makes a market in the securities of Seabridge Gold Inc.. RBC Dominion Securities Inc. makes a market in the securities of Seabridge Gold Inc.. An analyst involved in the preparation of this report has visited material operations of Seabridge Gold Inc., and more specifically, the facilities of Seabridge Gold Inc., which includes but is not limited to mines, distribution centres, warehouses, production plants and/or other facilities related to the day-to-day operation of Seabridge Gold Inc. as applicable.

Conflicts policy RBC Capital Markets Policy for Managing Conflicts of Interest in Relation to Investment Research is available from us on request. To access our current policy, clients should refer to https://www.rbccm.com/global/file-414164.pdf or send a request to RBC Capital Markets Research Publishing, P.O. Box 50, 200 Bay Street, Royal Bank Plaza, 29th Floor, South Tower, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2W7. We reserve the right to amend or supplement this policy at any time.

Dissemination of research RBC Capital Markets endeavors to make all reasonable efforts to provide research content simultaneously to all eligible clients, having regard to local time zones in overseas jurisdictions. RBC Capital Markets provides eligible clients with access to Research Reports on the Firm's proprietary INSIGHT website, via email and via third-party vendors. Please contact your investment advisor or institutional salesperson for more information regarding RBC Capital Markets' research. For a list of all recommendations on the company that were disseminated during the prior 12-month period, please click on the following link: https://rbcnew.bluematrix.com/sellside/MAR.action The 12 month history of Quick Takes can be viewed at RBC Insight.

Analyst certification All of the views expressed in this report accurately reflect the personal views of the responsible analyst(s) about any and all of the subject securities or issuers. No part of the compensation of the responsible analyst(s) named herein is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed by the responsible analyst(s) in this report.

Third-party disclaimers The Global Industry Classification Standard ("GICS”) was developed by and is the exclusive property and a service mark of MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”) and Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and is licensed for use by RBC. Neither MSCI, S&P, nor any other party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications makes any express or implied warranties or representations with respect to such standard or classification (or the results to be obtained by the use thereof), and all such parties hereby expressly disclaim all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any of such standard or classification. Without limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall MSCI, S&P, any of their affiliates or any third party involved in making or compiling the GICS or any GICS classifications have any liability for any direct, indirect, special, punitive, consequential or any other damages (including lost profits) even if notified of the possibility of such damages. RBC Capital Markets disclaims all warranties of originality, accuracy, completeness, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose with respect to any statements made to the media or via social media that are in turn quoted in this report, or otherwise reproduced graphically for informational purposes.

Disclaimer RBC Capital Markets is the business name used by certain branches and subsidiaries of the Royal Bank of Canada, including RBC Dominion Securities Inc., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, RBC Europe Limited, RBC Capital Markets (Europe) GmbH, Royal Bank of Canada, Hong Kong Branch, Royal Bank of Canada, Singapore Branch and Royal Bank of Canada, Sydney Branch. The information contained in this report has been compiled by RBC Capital Markets from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made by Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Capital Markets, its affiliates or any other person as to its accuracy, completeness or correctness. All opinions and estimates contained in this report constitute RBC Capital Markets'' judgement as of the date of this report, are subject to change without notice and are provided in good faith but without legal responsibility. Nothing in this report constitutes legal, accounting or tax advice or individually tailored investment advice. This material is prepared for general circulation to clients and has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. The investments or services contained in this report may not be suitable for you and it is recommended that you consult an independent investment advisor if you are in doubt about the suitability of such investments or services. This report is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Past performance is not a guide to future performance, future returns are not guaranteed, and a loss of original capital may occur. RBC Capital Markets research analyst compensation is based in part on the overall profitability of RBC Capital Markets, which includes profits attributable to investment banking revenues. Every province in Canada, state in the U.S., and most countries throughout the world have their own laws regulating the types of securities and other investment products which may be offered to their residents, as well as the process for doing so. As a result, the securities discussed in this report may not be eligible for sale in some jurisdictions. RBC Capital Markets may be restricted from publishing research reports, from time to time, due to regulatory restrictions and/ or internal compliance policies. If this is the case, the latest published research reports available to clients may not reflect recent material changes in the applicable industry and/or applicable subject companies. RBC Capital Markets research reports are current only as of the date set forth on the research reports. This report is not, and under no circumstances should be construed as, a solicitation to act as securities broker or dealer in any jurisdiction by any person or company that is not legally permitted to carry on the business of a securities broker or dealer in that jurisdiction. To the full extent permitted by law neither RBC Capital Markets nor any of its affiliates, nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct, indirect or consequential loss arising from, or in connection with, any use of this report or the information contained herein. No matter contained in this document may be reproduced or copied by any means without the prior written consent of RBC Capital Markets in each instance.

Additional information is available on request. To U.S. Residents: This publication has been approved by RBC Capital Markets, LLC (member FINRA, NYSE, SIPC), which is a U.S. registered broker-dealer and which accepts responsibility for this report and its dissemination in the United States. Any U.S. recipient of this report that is not a registered broker-dealer or a bank acting in a broker or dealer capacity and that wishes further information regarding, or to effect any transaction in, any of the securities discussed in this report, should contact and place orders with RBC Capital Markets, LLC. To Canadian Residents: This publication has been approved by RBC Dominion Securities Inc.(member CIRO). Any Canadian recipient of this report that is not a Designated Institution in Ontario, an Accredited Investor in British Columbia or Alberta or a Sophisticated Purchaser in Quebec (or similar permitted purchaser in any other province) and that wishes further information regarding, or to effect any transaction in, any of the securities discussed in this report should contact and place orders with RBC Dominion Securities Inc., which, without in any way limiting the foregoing, accepts responsibility for this report and its dissemination in Canada. To U.K. Residents: This publication has been approved by RBC Europe Limited ('RBCEL') which is authorized by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority ('FCA') and the Prudential Regulation Authority, in connection with its distribution in the United Kingdom. This material is not for general distribution in the United Kingdom to retail clients, as defined under the rules of the FCA. RBCEL accepts responsibility for this report and its dissemination in the United Kingdom. To EEA Residents: This material is distributed in the EU by either RBCEL on an authorised cross-border basis, or by RBC Capital Markets (Europe) GmbH (RBC EG) which is authorised and regulated in Germany by the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) (BaFin). To Persons Receiving This Advice in Australia: This material has been distributed in Australia by Royal Bank of Canada, Sydney Branch (ABN 86 076 940 880, AFSL No. 246521). This material has been prepared for general circulation and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation or needs of any recipient. Accordingly, any recipient should, before acting on this material, consider the appropriateness of this material having regard to their objectives, financial situation and needs. If this material relates to the acquisition or possible acquisition of a particular financial product, a recipient in Australia should obtain any relevant disclosure document prepared in respect of that product and consider that document before making any decision about whether to acquire the product. This research report is not for retail investors as defined in section 761G of the Corporations Act. To persons receiving this from Royal Bank of Canada, Hong Kong Branch: This document is distributed in Hong Kong by Royal Bank of Canada, Hong Kong Branch which is regulated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Securities and Futures Commission. This document is not for distribution in Hong Kong, to investors who are not “professional investors”, as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of Hong Kong) and any rules made under that Ordinance. This document has been prepared for general circulation and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any recipient. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. WARNING: The contents of this document have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in Hong Kong. Investors are advised to exercise caution in relation to the investment. If you are in doubt about any of the contents of this document, you should obtain independent professional advice. To persons receiving this from Royal Bank of Canada, Singapore Branch: This publication is distributed in Singapore by the Royal Bank of Canada, Singapore Branch, a registered entity licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. This publication is not for distribution in Singapore, to investors who are not “accredited investors” and “institutional investors”, as defined in the Securities and Futures Act 2001 of Singapore. This publication has been prepared for general circulation and does not take into account the objectives, financial situation, or needs of any recipient. You are advised to seek independent advice from a financial adviser before purchasing any product. If you do not obtain independent advice, you should consider whether the product is suitable for you. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. If you have any questions related to this publication, please contact the Royal Bank of Canada, Singapore Branch. To Japanese Residents: Unless otherwise exempted by Japanese law, this publication is distributed in Japan by or through RBC Capital Markets (Japan) Ltd. which is a Financial Instruments Firm registered with the Kanto Local Financial Bureau (Registered number 203) and a member of the Japan Securities Dealers Association (JSDA) and the Financial Futures Association of Japan (FFAJ).





Want to read more about Gold investment ideas?
Get Our Streetwise Reports Newsletter Free and be the first to know!

A valid email address is required to subscribe